AT&T Set to Roll Out Nationwide 3G MicroCell Availability Beginning Next Month

[cameronjpu]

You moved to an area that AT&T does not provide coverage. How is this AT&T's problem?
Are you going to complain when you move to a remote desert island too? Or could it be that your expectations are unrealistic?

I disagree. He's totally right - he has every right to demand that ATT give him one of these for free. And I hope for his sake he understands that in a negotiation, you have to be willing to follow through with your threat.

But there's absolutely nothing wrong with calling ATT and trying to leverage your relationship with them to get something free. That's called a free market. Some of us got the 3GS before 18 months after we bought the 3G because we are ATT's best customers. If this person is in that group, I'm sure they'll be happy to give him a microcell. Let's be honest - the cost to ATT of these things can't be $150, so whatever it costs them to give one away, a good customer will probably pay it back pretty quickly.

 

[cameronjpu]

THAT is what people find confusing. The average Joe may not understand that. I think the perception is that this device relays everything from your phone through your internet connection.

Average Joe is SO FAR from even comprehending that this device exists, he's certainly not pondering the differences in how his calls are routed.

 

[oldwatery]

Wow you people are stupid. Wow.

If you don't get service in your home then either get the microcell or get new cell service. If at&t doesn't work but Verizon does then get Verizon. I don't care. Cell phone companies even let you out of your contract with no penalty most of the time if you move to a new home and don't get service. I don't get all the whining on here.

This thing is $150 and there is a hardware rebate. THERE IS NO MONTHLY FEE UNLESS YOU WANT UNLIMITED CALLING OTHERWISE CALLS ON THE MICROCELL JUST USE YOUR REGULAR MINUTES - NO ADDITIONAL MONTHLY FEE.

If you do not think that is worth it, then you can go to another cell company! Simple.

It is not realistic to expect every single room in every single home in the damn country to have perfect service! Way too many variables.

I don't get why anyone thinks they should get this for free. "Waaah waaah I don't get at&t service in my house I deserve a free microcell. I have a RIGHT to cell service."

All the other cell phone companies do the same with their microcell like devices. I have a friend who has the sprint device because she doesn't get service in her room in her apartment.

I bet some of you are the same people who trumpet that the "free-market" and "competition" are the best economic tools. Then you sit there and refuse to use the basic mechanism of the system (taking your money elsewhere-voting with your dollars) and whine and think you should get something for free. Babies.

Very well said!
I am astounded at the knee jerk and uninformed rants going on here.
Just as I am amazed at how people bitch and moan about stuff they have total control over...it's called choice and believe it or not.....despite what is written here...you do have it.
Meanwhile this is a clever solution to many people's problems that from what I can understand costs absolutely nothing per month. $149 is not chump change but there are apparently rebates available to minimize the impact.

 

[TheNorthWaves]

"more bars in more places"

 

[cameronjpu]

Wait, let me see if I'm understanding this (I'm hoping I'm wrong)

They want to charge a fee for people to put phone/data traffic through their home broadband that the people already pay for; and have that traffic not go over the AT&T network ? Shouldn't they be offering to pay those people or reduce their cell costs since that traffic is not having to go over their network ? and alleviates the strain ?

You're wrong. Read the description of the device again.

 

[Donald V]

I just called a our ATT store in Scottsdale, AZ and they have them in stock. I'm going to pick one up tomorrow. Plus they said there is a $100 mail in rebate...sweet!

I work in a recording studio that has several block walls 30ft high filled with concrete for sound isolation. I get no service in my control room so this will be perfect for me.

Donald

 

[arkmannj]

You're wrong. Read the description of the device again.

Yup, a couple a good folks cleared it up for me a bit earlier in the thread.
I guess after a full day of reading specs for this and that, and over working the old noggin at work I somehow was a bit fried reading it the first time through.

 

[compuguy1088]

Don't know where you live, but your money went towards 100 new cell sites in my state last year, with plans for 200 more new ones this year. THANK YOU!

Coverage in NoVA is fine, though AT&T in Williamsburg, VA can be really spotty......there's really bad coverage near highway 31.

 

[firewood]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You think it's anyone's responsibility other than AT&T to give me the coverage I'm paying for? You think I am supposed to shell out more money JUST to get the coverage I should already be getting?
...

No, it's actually your fault and your responsibility. AT&T has to operate according to laws, and you're a voter (or your parents). You didn't outvote your neighbors about rules against putting big ugly antenna towers in view of everybody's front yard. You didn't get you congressmen to force the FCC to allow super high power cell towers to irradiate and cause cancer in anybody living nearby. You didn't get your city council to change building codes to only allow flimsy houses with paper walls that don't block cell signals and only double the heating bills. It was your responsibility to make your neighborhood ugly, cause more cancer, and increase global warming so that you could get a slightly better cell signal.



Or not... and people could buy a few well placed microcells instead.

 

[johncarync]

May want to check the FAQ

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/3gmicrocell/faq.jsp#using

Namely,
" Q. Do calls started on one AT&T 3G MicroCell device "hand over" to another AT&T 3G MicroCell if I move out of range of one and into range of another?

A. No. Calls will not hand over between two AT&T 3G MicroCell devices. "

Curious it leaves off transitioning to an AT&T tower. That may/may not work ; suspect it does though. I suspect the random placement and overlapping range issues on the microcells is a substantive part of the problem.


"Q. How many simultaneous calls or data sessions are possible with my AT&T 3G MicroCell device?

A. Up to four simultaneous sessions are possible with your AT&T 3G MicroCell device. "

Dense business locations aren't going to work. Unless this is mainly for folks (small 4-5 person workgroups) sitting fixed at their desks.

I already read the info and, if I worked in an office where everybody talked on their iPhone all day while doing laps around the building, I agree it would be a problem. But where I work people occasionally get calls and talk for a few minutes at their desks. So we should be just fine.

 

[fox10078]

Maybe i could bullsize womp rats in that thing.


(http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/T-16_skyhopper)

 

[phatlipboardz]

It's a flat $10 on your bill to use that service. The technology behind it is called UMA, and the phone needs to be enabled for the service. not sure if its a hardware requirement or a software thing to be able to switch off calls automatically.
For a company like Tmobile with less footprint than the other carriers it makes a lot of sense. they've been doing it for years now. If i talked on the phone more I'd consider it, for $10 its not bad. which brings me to my point... i think the reactions here would be a lot less severe if the pricing werent so extreme. $20 is just way too steep for this kind of service.

I have the T-Mobile Hotspot (it's a Linksys Wireless router) and it works with UMA enabled devices. Our devices have the Wifi radio built in, it's just a matter of tweaking the GSM protocol with the carrier--so essentially it's "software based" although it does require the wifi hardware, but this is installed in most if not all Smart phones.

I have an unlimited plan anyway, so essentially I don't pay anything extra to use the service. Awhile back they had the hotspot add on that allowed you unlimited calls while on wireless (this would be any wireless network--public or private), but quite frankly they aren't really promoting the additional $9.99 unlimited plan since it seems most T-mobile customers have an unlimited plan.

I've had it for ~2years and really appreciate it. I have a signal no matter where I am in the house. I also have several hotspots saved on the phone so when I'm in range, it jumps right on the network automatically. The paying extra part can really seem like a downer. We're already paying an arm and a leg for our broadband connections and to have a wireless company basically charge us to use it just so we can get a call does seem a bit ridiculous. These kinds of issues were discussed over and over again when T-mobile first launched it, and now it's really just something that is expected.

In time you (yes you) will learn that this is a way to take some of the load off the crippled network and utilize your broadband connection to get reliable service while at home.

 

[johng2222]

like he said!

No, it's actually your fault and your responsibility. AT&T has to operate according to laws, and you're a voter (or your parents). You didn't outvote your neighbors about rules against putting big ugly antenna towers in view of everybody's front yard. You didn't get you congressmen to force the FCC to allow super high power cell towers to irradiate and cause cancer in anybody living nearby. You didn't get your city council to change building codes to only allow flimsy houses with paper walls that don't block cell signals and only double the heating bills. It was your responsibility to make your neighborhood ugly, cause more cancer, and increase global warming so that you could get a slightly better cell signal.



Or not... and people could buy a few well placed microcells instead.

Yeah, that's right, your fault!

Or, not...

 

[Tumi 07]

This thread reeks of STUPID!

The POINT of the microcell is to give people coverage INSIDE THEIR HOMES! How is this a bad thing!?!? Seriously!

Or how about AT&T covers every possible place in the US! O, thats right...you'll be paying even more for your monthly service. So if you thought $70 was expensive, then you'll be bitching as usual when they up the price to $120 to give you that all around coverage in every possible place. At least with the microcell you'll be paying a one time fee.

Also, you're not paying AT&T to off-load traffic of their network. You're paying for a piece of hardware that give you reliable coverage where you live. Jeez, think people! Thats right, I guess using your brain is uncool these days!

 

[Xibalba]

$149 isn't terrible for a guaranteed great connection??? Please tell me you're joking!

Try living in an area with poor cellular reception - regardless of company - and then you will see that only $150 for a guaranteed great connection is a blessing!

I will be buying one of these ASAP once available in my area - thank God!

I will still plan on keeping my Vonage and Google Voice of course, but this MicroCell is way overdue!

 

[Xibalba]

GEE Wiz,

Thank you AT&T for having shotty service, allowing me to buy your expensive router to use it, connect it to my DSL that I already pay you for and allow me to pay you a monthly fee, even though I already pay you for my minutes.

You didn't read it well - there is no monthly fee necessary for MicroCell...

 

[Xibalba]

Btw -- this would also be great for inside large office buildings, hospitals, research centers, windowless basement offices, etc. I know the doctors at the hospital where I am currently treated need cell phone access (as they move between different hospital rooms/labs/offices all day) and have a lot of frustration with dropped calls to colleagues, etc.

as a physician who has experienced exactly this problem in multiple hospitals, i would welcome the use of MicroCell in said locations...

 

[carlgo]

Hey, even we progressives don't expect AT&T to serve us all and do it for free.

I just don't understand why AT&T charges for the microcells. They would more than make up the cost to make these things from the resultant contract, and they save having to build a tower.

It seems the more of these things they distribute, the more money they would make. The $150 seems rather shortsighted, actually counterproductive, and additionally pisses people off.

 

[617arg]

I don't know. Over the last few months coverage at my office has been spotty at best. Each call I make or receive is dropped, and there are many that come in straight to voicemail (phone doesn't even ring), or the immediate call failures when I try to dial out.

This sounds like a good option but then I think about an employee of mine on his T-Mobil Blackberry. He gets to make unlimited free calls through my wifi - and has no extra monthly charge for that option. Definitely makes me think twice about getting another AT&T exclusive phone.....................

I wouldn't mind paying for the device, since the iPhone might not have the necessary equipment built in, but I think charging an additional $20/month is pretty greedy.

 

[phatlipboardz]

as a physician who has experienced exactly this problem in multiple hospitals, i would welcome the use of MicroCell in said locations...

This always comes in handy when I can pick up on the hospital's wifi while my colleagues struggle to find a signal.

 

[Airmark1]

So now AT&T wants to piggy-back off MY internet connection? Seriously?

God forbid AT&T actually improves the cellular coverage. This is a band-aid fix to an enormous problem!

AT&T is basically admitting that their service is garbage and if you want good service then, well, you're just going to have to pay more.

This company is a joke, I can't wait until their exclusivity expires.

Seriously, what are these people thinking?

It's like if Netflix or something wanted to use my internet access to provide movies instead of sending me more DVD's. How stupid would that be. After all, I only wanna pay for internet access for email, and maybe...just MAYYYYBE read some news or something.

 

[Airmark1]

Yeah, don't hate just to hate. Building materials, proximity to tall buildings, and many other factors impede cell reception.

$149 isn't terrible for a guaranteed great connection. And if you can use your standard minutes from your cell plan, all the better!

WORD!

I am excited all the way.

 

[Macsterguy]

I live in full 3g coverage according to at&t's coverage map and yet my family has never been able to use our cell phones (iPhones) indoors. I WILL have one of these to use at N/C if they want to keep my business...... period

 

[marksman]

I live in full 3g coverage according to at&t's coverage map and yet my family has never been able to use our cell phones (iPhones) indoors. I WILL have one of these to use at N/C if they want to keep my business...... period

They will trade you one for free x-rays for All AT&T Employees for the next twelve months.

 

[smeagol]

LOL... Oh AT&T, you almost got me with that early April Fools joke... What, so you mean it's not a... joke? Why do I have to pay you for your network's lack of coverage, and you're piggy backing on my internet connection to add insult to injury? Shouldn't AT&T be paying me monthly fees for that? Here's how you do it AT&T, first you provide affected customers with said Micocell for free with an apology letter begging them not to go Droid, then take a chunk off their monthly bill for your incompetence. And in place of a Government tax, you get to pay an audacity-tax for even considering raising their already gargantuan bills with this stop-gap measure.